socialmediocrity

Noticing the noise / interest in Draw Something, I was struck by the tone of the Guardian’s coverage, in their article, Draw Something becomes an iPhone and Android games phenomenon.

Along with the now-standard hyperbole about another run-away success, XXXL-valuations predicated on future, albeit unlikely sustained revenues, there is mention of the prospect of acquisition at afore-mentioned valuations by one of the genre’s big players, Zynga.

In one passage the similarity of the game with the parlour game classic, Pictionary, is identified.

Yet when the article notes that the potential suitor has the might and the wherewithall to make a clone game if the game developer doesn’t sell, it is cited as controversial.

Anyone else starting to feel like something is missing here?

The game itself isn’t a new idea – the article mentions that much itself, though you’d never guess from the sentiment of the article.

Incredibly, there is even the mention of a TV show based on the format. The producers of Win Lose or Draw might have something to say about that, yet not even the whiff of “cloning” is uttered here.

So it leads us to wonder, how many downloads, users, “in-app” revenue do you need before the game and indeed the entire game format, can be considered yours and yours alone to profit from?

LOVEFiLM have released their much anticipated (by existing subscribers, that is) iPhone app – and it’s receiving great reviews so far, as well as requests for more features / flavours already.

Built by techlightenment (author works for them), it is free for anyone, and can be found at no. 51 in the Free Apps chart currently – and with a current rating of 4+ it ‘s proving popular too (after 98 reviews). A quick scan of the negative reviews reveals that those appear to be mostly concerned with technical glitches a small number of users have had, rather than the quality or features of the app itself.

Although not exclusively available to LOVEFiLM customers, it does have some great benefits if you are. List management on the mobile by linking to your LOVEFiLM account is a great opportunity to make the most of other downtime you might have, or to react to the impulse to add a film to your list for future viewing. This seems to be one of those rare occasions that the feature-set of the mobile app has genuine value to the consumer as far as their normal interaction with the brand concerned goes, rather than a mobile app for the sake of having a mobile app. (Note: despite working for the developer, I personally had no involvement in the concept itself).

For non-customers, it does provide some cool lists that might inspire the cinema-goer – search by genre, and compare by customer ratings, and you’ve got a neat way to find the film you’re going to watch at the weekend – whether you’re a LOVEFiLM user yet or not.

You can get the LOVEFiLM UK app here:  http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/lovefilm-uk/id353141812?mt=8

BREAKING NEWS. Those clever people at the Wheat Crunchies factory have embedded iPhone navigation technology into every packet.

Babelgum, the online TV service, have just launched a FREE application for the iPhone.

I like it.

What’s really great is that it showcases a number of shows through the medium of highlights. Which makes it all the more accessible, given the iPhone’s small-screen format. As much as I like the fact I can get video on the iPhone, I still can’t imagine myself watching a full-length 30-minute show on it.

And with limited opportunity to make use of the iPhone’s other features, they have a nice mechanism to refresh the highlights clips. Shake it to refresh the list!

All in all the UI really stikes a chord with me too. It feels quite quirky, but very much sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the app. As the TV ad says, this could change things forever! Or at least, I get to watch some of the best comedy clips from broadcasters like the Beeb while I’m at work, and for free.